Sustainable Achievements and In-Progress Programs
Montage Laguna Beach

Education – Proper communication of our sustainable mission and vision statements, goals and initiatives to all levels of associates.

• Staff Meeting Updates
• Environmental Impact Group
• Embedded within our "Montage Culture"
• Established "Director Of Sustainability" corporate position

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle– Minimize our impact to the environment by utilizing best management practices and proven technologies that exceed the expectations of our guests.

• Comprehensive Waste Management Policy that address proper disposal and recycling of materials and limits the amount of waste sent to the landfill. This policy will address products such as: recyclable materials, e-waste, light bulbs, batteries, grease and paint.
  • Currently working with Waste Management to establish pilot wet-waste (food) recycling
• Paper Reduction Program – resulting in a reduction of 14 cases (140,000 sheets) on average, per month.
  • All in-house computers are defaulted to print double sided
  • Regular scheduled reports are e-mailed out and printed only when necessary.
  • Paperless on-line access to HR information, benefits, 401K, associate surveys and all applicants who apply to Montage, apply online.
• Energy Reduction Program
  • Conversion of back of house lighting from incandescent to fluorescent.
  • Specification of Energy Star appliances during renovation.
  • Establishment of a monthly utility tool to measure costs and benchmark energy reduction over set time periods.
• Bottled Water Reduction – Installation of a "Natura" water filtration system which utilizes reverse osmosis and ultra violet light to produce a high quality level of water served in both banquets and The Loft restaurant. This is in place of purchasing bottled water and having it shipped to our property.
  • Savings of 20,000 bottles per year
• Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) Plan – A procurement policy put in place to give preferential treatment to products and services that meet benchmark environmental standards. Example – Biodegradable plastic cups used throughout the property which breakdown automatically when disposed of at a typical landfill.

Environmentally Sensitive Approach to Landscape

• 100% use of reclaimed water for landscape purposes
• Integrated organic fertilizer and landscape program which limits the amounts and kinds of pesticides used on site and gives preferential treatment to organic fertilizers.
• Native and adaptive landscape palette which allows for a reduction in the amount of irrigation necessary. Example – Paspalum turf species which is designed to better handle reclaimed water, which has a higher TDS (total dissolved solids) count.

Stormwater Runoff Filtration – All runoff, prior to entering city storm drain system, is filtered onsite through the use of CDS (Continuous Deflective Separators).

• All water runoff from Montage Laguna Beach is diverted to filtration system before making contact with sewers.

Social Responsibility and Resource Protection – Montage associates commitment to protecting surrounding environment and local community

• Quarterly Beach Clean-Up events. 60-90 Montage associates clean the beaches of Aliso Creek Beach, Victoria Beach, Goff Island and the coastal area in front of Montage.
• Tide pool docent / Guest education program
• Partnerships with Ocean Institute, Boys & Girls Club, SchoolPower
• Establishment of Environmental Impact Committee focused on looking at day to day activities of Montage Laguna Beach in order to establish more sustainable operations.
• No Styrofoam is used on property, substitute materials are either recyclable or bio degradable.

Comprehensive Rideshare Program – Reward associates who carpool or find alternative methods of transportation to the resort

• Monthly raffles
• Discounted bus vouchers
• Preferential Parking Spots

Awards

ULI (Urban land Institute), Award for Excellence, The Americas, 2006,
GIFFTS, Award for Community Service, 2007.

"Grand Award" as part of the Environmental Improvement Awards Program Sponsored by Planet News, 2007.